Improved apparatus for carbtjretting air and gas



and l do hereby declare the following to.

dilated tant ARTHUR B'ARBARIN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,

Leia/rs Patent No.' 95,412, daad october 5, 1869;

IMP-ROVED APPARAT'U'S` FOR CARBURETTING' AIR AND GAS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To a-ll whom, it 'may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR BARBARIN, -of the city of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented a certain new, useful, and effective Mode of Indicating the Rise and Fall of Hydrocarbon in a Carburetter, and of Oarburetting Atmospheric Air (or Gas be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, on -Which- Figure l is a sidel elevation,- With parts of the apparatus broken away, to show th'e interior arrangements, and

Figure 2, a plan or top view.

rlhe object of my invention consists of a simple and effective `mode of indicating the rise and fall 'of the carburetting-iiuid contained in a carburetter, and in perfecting the process of practically carburetting atmospheric air (or gas) at all seasons of the year,

' and under lall conditions of the surrounding air; but

my invention will be better understood by referring to the annexed drawings, forming part of this speciticaf tion, whereon the same letters indicate the same'parts at both figures.

A is an air (or gas) receiver and holder, that is placed within a water-tank, B, and sustained by guiderods a b c, that pass through the projecting rim of its cover C, as shown.

rlhe rods a b c are secured on the outside of the tank B in any proper way, and by any proper means, and held in parallel relation to each other by braces d e f.

An ordinary air-pump, D, is connected with the tank B, in suoli a manner that the end ofits eduction-pipe will lead intb a pipe, E, which has a horizontal section, 1, anda vertical section, 2, rising about the height ofthe pump, and in the interior of the tank, so that the air forced through the same will ascend into the receiver A, wherein.it .is retainedby the water in the tank, which should always occupythe same height up t'o the point indicated by the short horizontal lines that are shown, through the broken p art ofthe tank, at fig. 1.

' I do not know that there is any novelty in the part of the machined have just described, since it is substantially similar to an ordinary gasometer, and I have referred to it chieiiy because it seemed to me proper, Iand, in some sort, necessary, to describe the whole machine, in order the more clearly to explain those parts which are. of my own invention, and demonstrate their merit.- l'

1n the centre of the water-tank B, a vertical section of another pipe, F, is sustained by a horizontal section, G, which passes through the wall ofthe tank, as shown.

The open upper extremityof section F extends high enough to be always above the water in the tank, but yet'nct quite high enough to reach the top of the tank, substantially as seen at iig. l'.

. A few inches outside the tank, the section G connects with another perpendicularsection, H, which, in its turn,'connccts, by a short horizontal elbow-joint, I, with a pipe, J, y(in which there is a stop-cock, g,) that extends nearly down to the bottom ofthe carburetter vK, as shown by dotted lines, where it enters in the same, and extends to the centre thereof, where it turns down, and passes through a perforated diaphragm, and terminates .just below the same, the said diaphragm being attached to the carburetter near its lower end, and serving the purpose of a distributer of the air which escapes below it throughout all parts of the hydrocarbon, as long as a supply of the same is furnished to the carburetter. i

The carburetter K is perfectly air-tight everywhere, but is provided with two (2) eduction-pipes, M N, and

a short pipe, with funnel L, throughwhich the hydrocarbon is poured into it, which said pipes are provided with stop-cocks h ij.. l

The pipe M affords an escape for the air, when the hydrocarbon is poured in the carburetter,-while the pipe Nleads lto the burners.

From practical experiments, I have found that a cal'buretter should be constructed with a large insteady of a small diameter, (in proportion, of course, to the.

number of burners to be supplied with gas,) so as always to present a large horizontal surface of hydrocarbon, while the vertical column of the same may -vary in height from two to ten inches abovethe diaphragm; and, when placed under the conditions hereinafter described, a perfect Carburation of the air (or gas) takes place under all conditions of the surrounding air. f

On the'top ofthe carburetterK, on a hollow standard, I fix a recipient, with a glass top, for a dial-indicator, O, which is numbered, near itsmargin, after the manner of the dial of a watch or clock.

' Through this hollow standard passesfa vertical rod, R, which rests in a socket that is iixed on the bottom of the carburetter, in such away as to-be rotated in the easiest possible manner, which rod has a needletennination, that passes through the dial 0, above \a shoulder, on which the dial rests, to which an indicator or hand, it, is secured, in s'uch a manner, that when the hydrocarbon is one inch deep, the iioat P, resting thereon, will, by its action on the rod It, cause the indicator-hand k to point to the Ligure or number it is ever desirable to till the carbnretter.

The rod R is turned, and, by turning, moves the indicating-hand, by reason of the fact that it is p ro vided with one (1) or more projecting spiral threads,

.1, or grooves, inc-lieu thereof, that take into corresponding grooves or threads, as the case may be, that are cut in the aperture in rthe centre of theioat P, through which said rod passes or projects therefrom, which are so calculated as to cause the rod to be rotated just suiiiciently to move the indicator-hand from one mark on the dial to another, whenever the float is laised or lowered one inch in the carburetter, by the rising or the falling of the hydrocarbon to that extent.

The lioat isl prevented from turning, while readily rising and falling with the hydrocarbon, by means of asutlicient number of vertical guide-rods, that pass through holes near'its circumference.

The iioat can be made of any suitable size or shape, with or without perforations through it to let the gas escape; but, when the carburetter is to be used on a locomotive, or on board of a steamer, where the carbnretting-uid contained therein may be violently shaken or agitated, it is preferable that the float should be perforated with. holes, and very nearly cover the hydrocarbon, leaving only just space enough between its `circumference and the sides of the carburetter Kto permit the free passage of the carburetted air (or gas) into the upper part of the carburetter, and to prevent the hydrocarbon from being too suddenly or violently agitated or shaken while thecar 0r steameris in motion.

The carburettenas will be seen by the drawings, is enclosed in an open vessel, S, which latter is larger A than the former, to aiiord a suliciently large space between the walls of the two to receive a suiiiciently large quantity of water, or other suitabie stationary liquid or semi-liquid packing, with the view to the maintenance of a uniform temperature in the hydrocarbon, irrespective ot' the temperature of the external air, while a continuous current or current-s of the same irom an air-holder or other source is caused to pass through said hydrocarbon, to be carburetted as last as gas is needed to supply the burners iu actual use, through their respective conduits, connected t'o said carburetter.

Instead of a liquid, or of a semi-liquid packing, I may use as a substitute for the same, in al wet or dry state,`and at low temperature, so as to surround the carburetter and its contents inthe vessel S, any sand,

ashes, saw or cork-dnsts, any metallic filings, shavings,

lumps, or powders, any charcoal or coke in powder or lumps, or any mineral powders or lumps, or earthy,

vegetable, vor annual substances, or their equivalent, mixed or unmlxed, and capable `of producing the same effect; and, instead of surrounding the carbu-` retter with any o't' the abovefnamed substances, or their equivalent, and then exposing the whole to the surrounding air, I may, if I deem it proper, sink the carburetter and its contents., without the tank S, in a well containing water or other liquid or semi-liquid; or I may place it directly in the earth to any suitable depth, and then cover its surface with any suitable material, so as to have but the indicating-hand, and the pipes M N, and funnel L exposed to the surrounding air; or I may placeI the carburetter and its contents in the water-tank of a railroad-locomotive, when the same is to be employed for generating gas for .the head-light of the locomotive, and for other cars connected to said locomotive; and, instead of placing the carburetter in the water-tank of a railroad-locomotive, I may place the same in the vessel S, containing any of the substances before described,

and thenlocate the whole upon the small platform of the cow-catcher, immediately in front of the locomotive, and protect the same in such a manner that no obstruction on theroad, caught and raised by the cow-catcher, can injure the carburetter or appurtee narices.

lWhen the medium for maintaining a uniform temperature in the hydrocarbon Vis wateror other liquid, such as a solution of glycerine and water, and the vessel S and the carburetter are exposed to the cold temperature of the external air, I may, if I deem it necessary, maintain the" proper temperature in the hydrocarbon by means of air brought from the main pipe through a brauch-pipe, T, which, at a proper point, has a section of small divisional pipes, as shown 'at t, wherein,.by the application of heat from a burner at theA end of a pipe, U, leading from pipe N, or from any other source, I heat said air, a d thenl convey it,

by making a proper flexure in said ipe, over the top of the outer vessel S, and down into the liquid cony tained in the said space. and by which the hydrocarbon is surrounded.

'Ihe water or other liquid is thus heated, and kept at the proper temperature, whenever the exigencies of the occasion require it to be done.

The water or other liquid may be drawn from vessel S by a suitable pipe,in which a suitable stop-cock is fitted, as shown at Y; and a similar appliance may be made to the carburettento draw the hydrocarbon out of the same, when necessary. y

When' made to be portable, the wuole apparatus may be securely attached on a platform or board, W,

in the same compact manner. shown on the drawing;

otherwise it maybe placed anywhere that convenience may dictate. Should it be necessary to indicate the rise or fail of the liquid on the side of the carburetter, instead of its top, small bevel-wheels, `with a proper axis', can be arranged, in connection with the rod R, to secure that object.

I am aware that Alonzo C. Rand has obtained a patent, No. 62,364, for placing a carburetter, surrounded by water, inA the` earth; but. this 11e only claims when the carburetter, so surrounded,` is placed within a gasometer, to receive a temporary current o1 currents of air, or merely that quantity of air which is necessary to vapon'ze a sntiicient volume of hydrocarbon to ll the gasometer with gas, which operation is very short, and ceases whenever the gasometer is lled. Thus itwill he seen, that While Mr. Bands process is to manufacture gas beforehand, and to store the same, in any quantity, in gasometers, for future use, (which is far from being av safe process for domestic and other uses,) `mine is the reverse; that is to say, I make no gas unless it be for immediatewan't, and the quantity generated then is in proportion to the number of burners in actual use. In other words, the passage of the continuous current or currents of air`through the hydrocarbon by my process is never permitted until gas is needed; and it is only when a.

carburetter is placed in the conditions that I have before described that such a process is practical at all seasons of the year, and under all conditions of the surrounding air.

I am aware that W. H. Govel has obtained a patent, No. 91,213, for restoring the latent heat tofa V What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The rod R, when Constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein `describe(l, for the purposes set forth.

2. The pipes H and T, in combination with each other, and with a reoeiyer, A, and a. tank, B, and a. carburetter, K, that is enveloped by a. vessel, S, when the parts are constructed, arranged, and operate substantially as herein described, for the' purpose set forth.

3. rlhe above combination, in combination with the rod R and its indiea.ting-applianees, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth. i

\ ARTHUR BARBARIN..

Witnesses:

A. E. DUPAs, PAUL l,DUoA'rErt 

